On television.

Downright Nasty

Killian was the colorful ex-cop turned late-night talk-show host on NBC's 1988-91 series "Midnight Caller," which was light years ahead of its time when it came to dealing with talk radio.

As the "Nighthawk" on San Francisco radio station KJCM, Killian was compassionate, caring and daring as he sometimes delved into the problems of his listeners.

"I miss the show too," said Gary Cole, who played Killian. "It was a lot of fun to do, and we came out of there with some really good shows, I think." (The Lifetime cable channel had been airing episodes of "Midnight Caller" at various times during the week.)

You wouldn't call Lucas Buck, Cole's new character on CBS' "American Gothic," a hero. Far from it.

As sheriff of fictional Trinity, S.C., Buck rules the town with an evil, iron will. The pilot episode, during which Buck, off-camera, snaps the neck of a teenage girl, set the malevolent tone of the show. Since then, Buck has dispatched, in a sadistic, unusual manner, several townsfolk, as well as some out-of-towners foolish enough to cross him.

After playing a hero like Jack Killian, it might have been hard to picture the 39-year-old Cole, one of Chicago's best-known stage actors (Remains Theatre co-founder, Steppenwolf Theatre cast mate), essaying someone so immoral. But Cole has proved he can be as evil as he wants to be. (He did go evil as Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald in the mini-series "Fatal Vision.")

"It's been fun," Cole said during a telephone conversation from location in Wilmington, N.C. "It's been tricky at times, because you don't want to relax so much when you're playing a character that is in control. There's a danger of becoming a little lazy sometimes."

And it's true what some actors say: Playing the villain is sometimes cooler than being the good guy. You've just got to be careful.

"It's a lot of fun to play, because sometimes the darker side has more interesting things to do as an actor," Cole said. "On the other hand, what I've discovered is that sometimes playing a villain or a villain-like character is emotionally not as deep, because of lack of conscience, for one thing."

Critics liked "American Gothic," but not a lot of viewers were tuning in when the show was on at 9 p.m. Fridays. So CBS pulled it a few months ago. (Cole said that production continued while it was off the air.)

"American Gothic" returns at 9 p.m. Wednesday on WBBM-Ch. 2, and Cole says the show is back with a new vengeance, with promises that it will become creepier. "I think you're going to see more supernatural-like things, (and) I'm only using that for lack of a better word."

Just before the series went on hiatus, Buck was going up against various townspeople, all the while being a negative influence on his illegitimate son Caleb Temple (played winningly by young Lucas Black). Cole said Buck's plans for his son finally will be revealed in upcoming episodes. Trying to get in Buck's way are Caleb's cousin, reporter Gail Emory (Paige Turco), and town doctor Matt Crower (Jake Weber).

But the show's focus is about to shift dramatically. Caleb's sister Merlyn (Sarah Paulson), whom Buck killed in the pilot, and who has been her brother's ghostly protector, will take human form.

"Initially, most of the scripts--the ones that have been on the air and then a lot of ones after that--had this character (Buck) pretty much in control of everything and not really rattled by anything," said Cole. "That's going to change a little bit now. Everything's being pushed a little bit further, where he's going to be a little more vulnerable. And that has to do with the character of Merlyn.

"We're kind of facing off more. So we're going to see a little more of that paranormal or supernatural or whatever-you-want-to-call-it element in the show than we've seen previously."

Hey, Gary, you used the term "supernatural" again. When talking to those involved with "American Gothic," it's hard to pin them down about exactly what Buck is. Sure, he's evil, but does he have any powers to back that up?

"Supernatural powers, I don't know," Cole admitted. "I mean, I think he has the ability to visualize things before they happen. And whether that makes them happen, I don't know. I mean, it's almost ambiguous to me . . .

"The shows I've seen, it's never really defined. You see things happen, but you don't know, you can't really pin it on him. And I think that's what Shaun's (creator and supervising producer Shaun Cassidy) theme is: (Buck) always seems to be around when stuff happens, but you can never pin anything on him. His hands are never dirty. Which is the slickest form of evil, I think."